Your Next Home - December 2019

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your

CHARLEVOIX

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ANTRIM December 2019 Traverse City

Next Home W E S T

M I C H I G A N

Benzie, Manistee & Mason Counties

Mesick

Bear Lake

Manton

Irons Scottville Ludington Pentwater Hart

OCEANA

OSCEOLA Evart Reed City

Baldwin

Big Rapids

NEWAYGO

Holton Whitehall Twin Lake

Dedicated • Professional • Results

Fremont Newaygo

MUSKEGON

Harrison Clare

ISABELLA Mt. Pleasant

Morley

MONTCALM

Sparta Cedar Springs GreenvilleCarson City Rockford Belding

KENT

Cheryl Staszczak 248-805-3802

Dale Smith 231-794-9122

Heather Barker 231-510-5505

John Hanson 231-510-5543

Judianne Sibley 231-239-1333

Kayla King 231-887-0092

Kerri Mackey 231-510-8380

Leah Gannon 517-607-5347

Lynda Beaton 231-383-0404

Michael Kruse 231-690-8882

Pam Weiner 810-841-8616

Shirley Barker 903-681-6102

Therran Ferguson 231-510-1790

Ben Korendyke 231-690-0670

Don Bradley 231-425-8838

Residential

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Commercial

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Rentals

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Vacant Land

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Waterfront

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Farms

SEE OUR DIRECTORY ON PAGE 2 FOR A FULL LIST OF REALTORS AND BUSINESSES.

MIDLAND

Shepherd

Howard City Lakeview

Grand Rapids

Casey Tennant 231-233-7613

GLADWIN

CLARE Farwell

Mecosta

MECOSTA

White Cloud

Hesperia

Montague

McBain Marion

LAKE

Let your Lighthouse Team work for YOU in 2020

ROSCOMMON

Lake City

Cadillac

Manistee

MASON

MISSAUKEE

WEXFORD

MANISTEE

CRAWFORD

KALKASKA

GRAND TRAVERSE

BENZIE

OTSEGO

FREE

LEELANAU

RECORD PATRIOT 1 A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE MANISTEE NEWS ADVOCATE & BENZIE YourCOUNTY Next Home • December 2019

St. Louis Alma Ithaca

GRATIOT

your

DIRECTORY

Next Home W E S T

M I C H I G A N

Benzie, Manistee & Mason Counties

REAL ESTATE AGENCIES & REALTORS...........PAGE

Lighthouse Realty................................................................1 (Cover) Lighthouse Realty..............................................................................3 REALTOR Contact & Website Information.....................................4 REO-Jon Zickert.................................................................................5 Lighthouse Realty..............................................................................6 Lighthouse Realty..............................................................................9 MOM Board of Realtors................................................................ 11 Lighthouse Realty........................................................................... 17 Gini Pelton....................................................................................... 18 Lighthouse Realty........................................................................... 23 REO-Jon Zickert.............................................................................. 24

LUMBER COMPANIES

Carter Lumber................................................................................. 14 Somsel Lumber Co......................................................................... 20

INSURANCE AGENCIES

State Farm Insurance Agency....................................................... 10 Webber Insurance Agency........................................................... 15

55+ COMMUNITY

The Bluffs on Manistee Lake......................................................... 21

CONTRACTOR COMPANIES

Hopwoods Heating and Cooling....................................................7 Jack VanderBie Builder, LLC......................................................... 19

ADVICE FOR THE HOME

Did You Know? - Home for the Holidays.......................................6 Help Make Your Poinsettias Last Longer........................................8 Did You Know? - Origin of Christmas Stockings........................ 10 Christmas Tree Tips and Tricks...................................................... 12 Keep Safety in Mind When Decorating for the Holidays.......... 13 Did You Know? — Holiday Shoppers........................................... 14 How to Care for Wild Birds this Winter....................................... 16 Did You Know? - Giving the Gift of Experience......................... 18 Did You Know? New Year’s Resolutions...................................... 20 Stay Safe this Holiday Season....................................................... 22

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Your Next Home • December 2019

Feel the Lake Michigan Breeze!

601 Browning Ave., Manistee $215,000 • MLS# 19050461

Very well maintained 3 bedroom 3 bath Ranch in the Lake View Heights subdivision near the Manistee Golf & Country Club and close to Lake Michigan. You can feel the breeze off Lake Michigan. Beautifully landscaped fenced backyard, with 2 storage sheds, patio, deck, waterfall, and underground sprinkler system.

Central Air. Separate water meter for lawn & garden use. Slider off the dining room. Over 2,500 sq. ft. of living space. Master bedroom with its’ own bathroom. Large attached garage.

Full finished basement with huge rec-room.

This home is ready for you to move in. Please don’t hesitate to schedule your tour!

Therran Ferguson

Associate Broker

(231) 510-1790 Therran@golighthouserealty.com

December 2019 • Your Next Home

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INFORMATION

Bluffs on Manistee Lake, The.......................231-887-4512 www.thebluffsonmanisteelake.com Carter Lumber.............................................231-757-9000 www.carterlumber.com

Century 21 Boardwalk.................................231.723.6100 www.c21boardwalk.com Gini Pelton.............................................231-690-0852

Hopwoods Heating & Cooling Inc...............231-889-4981 www.HopwoodsHeatingAndCoolingInc.com Jack VanderBie Builder, LLC........................231-848-7123 Lighthouse Realty Manistee........................231-398-3800 www.goLighthouseRealty.com Heather Barker.......................................231-510-5505 Lynda Beaton.........................................231-383-0404 Therran Ferguson...................................231-510-1790 Leah Gannon..........................................517-607-5347 Kerri Mackey..........................................231-510-8380 Judianne Sibley.....................................231-239-1333 Casey Tennant........................................231-233-7613 Mason Oceana Manistee Board of Realtors........................ www.momboard.com

Real Estate One/The Jon Zickert Group........231-631-1337 www.jonzickert.com Somsel Lumber...........................................231-362-3103 State Farm - Mary Sturdevant......................231-723-9905 www.statefarm.com

Webber Insurance.......................................231-882-9655 www.webberinsurance.us 4

Your Next Home • December 2019

December 2019 • Your Next Home

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Did You Know?

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Christmas carols and festive songs help make the holidays complete by setting the mood for the festivities to come. Songs resonate differently with people during the holiday season. For example, some celebrants find certain holiday tunes or lyrics especially poignant. Those who might be missing home or planning on visiting friends and relatives who live far away during the holiday season often find the words to “(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays,” are an accurate portrayal of the sentiments of holiday traveling.

Composed by Robert Allen, with lyrics by Al Stillman, “(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays” was published in 1954.

The best-known recordings of the song are by Perry Como, who recorded it twice — once in 1954 and then again in 1959 with a different musical arrangement. The first version reached #8 on the Billboard magazine chart in the United States. The Carpenters recorded another popular version of the song for their 1984 album, “An Old-Fashioned Christmas.” Nora Jones and Cyndi Lauper also recorded a duet version of the song in 2011.

Thank you to all of my new and returning customers.

You are the HEART of my business.

Extraordinary Service In Every Price Range

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Kerri Mackey

Realtor (231) 510-8380 Mobile kerri@golighthouserealty.com

Your Next Home • December 2019

Hopwoods

Caring for your Heating and Cooling Needs Since 1998

(231) 889-4981

Heating & Cooling Inc.

• Specializing in High Efficiency Furnace • Replacement & Retrofit • Radiant In Floor Heating • 98% Efficient Water Heaters • 96% Efficient Furnaces • 98% Efficient Boilers • Heating & Cooling Services • Repair & Preventive Maintenance

SALES • SERVICE • INSTALLATION

Voted Best Of People’s Choice 5 Years In A Row!

Call for free estimates today! www.HopwoodsHeatingAndCoolingInc.com

Call your trusted HVAC contractor, Hopwood Heating & Cooling Inc. (231) 889-4981 December 2019 • Your Next Home

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HOME Poinsettias are synonymous with the holiday season.

These colorful plants brighten up homes with their vibrant hues in variations of red, white and pink, making them a holiday decoration many people cannot live without.

While they’re most visible during the often chilly holiday season, poinsettias prefer warm weather.

Poinsettias are native to Central America and originally flourished in an area of southern Mexico. The Aztecs used the plant for decorative and medicinal purposes.

The poinsettia may have remained a regional plant if not for the efforts of Joel Roberts Poinsett, who was the first United States Ambassador to Mexico under President James Madison. Poinsett, who would later found the Smithsonian Institution, had a love of botany and became enamored with the brilliant red plants he saw in Mexico. Eventually, Poinsett began growing the plants at home in South Carolina, and friends and others soon coveted them.

Poinsettias are beautiful and the bracts (modified leaves) can be vibrantly colored. That signature vibrancy is why many people would like to preserve their poinsettias to last beyond the New Year, which is possible with the right care. The following are some tips, courtesy of Mother Nature’s Network, Habersham Gardens, Oregon Live, and Phoenix Flower Shops, to keep poinsettias thriving past the holiday season.

• Start with healthy plants that have full leaves, bracts and deep colors.

• Poinsettias do best when the temperature is between 65 and 75 F. Temperatures below that or drafts from cold windows can cause leaves to drop.

• Position the plant in a room that gets indirect 8

Help make your poinsettias last longer

sunlight for at least six hours per day. If direct sunlight can’t be avoided, diffuse the light with a sheer curtain.

• Poinsettias need well-drained soil. Overwatering or allowing roots to sit in wet soil can cause the leaves to fall off prematurely. Water thoroughly only when the pot looks dry. In households with temperatures around 70 F, the plant should be watered about once a week.

• Fertilize the plant after the blooming season with a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer.

• Try placing poinsettias in or near a bathroom, as they prefer high humidity.

It may be possible to get poinsettias to rebloom next season. Allow the poinsettias to dry out a little more in the spring. In May, cut about four inches from each stem to produce a lush, full plant during the winter.

The plants can be moved outside in June and during the summer, but keep them away from direct sunlight.

Return the poinsettias indoors beginning around October. Make sure the plants get at least 12 hours of darkness per day for around eight weeks in October and November. This will help them develop a deep hue and bloom on time for Christmas.

Your Next Home • December 2019

Lynda Beaton

(231) 383-0404

Lynda@golighthouserealty.com

pen to O s I r e n Ow on!

NegotiatiMLS# 19034022 • 3897 Pine Creek, Manistee 49660 3 Bedrooms, 1 1/2 Bathrooms On 10 Wooded Acres with a Full Basement

$125,000

3 Bdrm, 1 & 1/2 Bath.

Large Victorian Home With 3 Season Front Porch 2 Car Garage 2 Story Oak Floors & Judianne Sibley Dedicated - Trusted - Experienced Woodwork

(231) 239-1333

Judianne@golighthouserealty.com

$79,900

PRICE REDUCED

LISTING Both Close ToNEW Lake MI 10 A N. Rath Rd., Ludington, MI 49431 MLS# 9047820

Wooded.

146 Jackson St.

LAKE MICHIGAN FRONTAGE — 2 ACRES HARBOR DR

Sandy Beach, Spectacular View, Excellent Location, In Victorian Port City of Manistee, Unique, Wooded, Beautiful 208’ Lake Front.

MLS #190169362

$489,900

December 2019 • Your Next Home

Wooded Level Lot.

Price Reduced Price Reduced $65,000 $35,000 Lovely Wooded 8.5 Acres LARGE A-Frame

Price Reduction

Woodland Subdivision Meadow Wood Lot #40 MLS# 19042626

3 Bdr., 2 Story Home 2 Story Car Garage/Barn Beautiful Wooded Acreage In neighborhood close to Lk Mi and Shopping

$183,900

Now’s Your Chance ~ Price Reduced!

1608 Snowtrails Dr., Manistee MLS# 19024763

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Did You Know?

The holiday season is rife with tradition.

Some holiday traditions, such as holiday lighting displays, are impossible to miss, while others are more subtle and possibly even unknown to many celebrants.

One tradition that falls into the latter category involves the placing of oranges into Christmas stockings. The origins of Christmas stockings are rooted in legend, and one of the more popular tales involves a widowed father of three beautiful girls.

According to Smithsonian.com, this father was struggling to make ends meet and was concerned that his financial struggles would affect his daughters’ ability to find a spouse. As the legend goes, St. Nicholas

was wandering through the man’s town and heard of his concerns. Recognizing that the man was unlikely to accept charity, St. Nicholas slid down the chimney of his house and placed three gold balls in the girls’ recently laundered stockings, which were hanging by the fire to dry. The value of the gold balls, which were discovered the following morning, was enough to ensure the girls could eventually wed. So what does that have to do with oranges? Those who wanted to replicate the tale could not so easily come upon gold balls to place in stockings, so they chose something similar in appearance: oranges.

Give your home the protection it deserves.

Your home is where you make some of your best memories, and that’s worth protecting.

Mary Sturdevant Ins Agcy Inc Mary Sturdevant, Agent

I’m here to help.

LETS TALK TODAY.

306 Parkdale Ave Manistee, MI 49660 Bus: 231-723-9905 10

Your Next Home • December 2019

December 2019 • Your Next Home

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HOME

Christmas tree tips and tricks

Christmas trees are an iconic symbol of the holiday season. Whether they are personal trees nestled in the corner of a living room for families to enjoy or towering evergreens serving as the focal point of a town square, Christmas trees are a wonder to behold.

Many people have fond memories of time spent around the Christmas tree sharing gifts and family traditions. Live trees and their pine-like aroma can be especially nostalgic trees to include in holiday plans. The National Christmas Tree Association says that approximately 25 to 30 million real Christmas trees are sold in the United States every year. North American trees hail from all 50 states and areas of Canada.

While freshly cut trees can be particularly beautiful and aromatic additions to the season, they require a bit more work than artificial trees in order to remain beautiful and thrive throughout the holiday season.

Maintenance can help keep Christmas trees as perfect as possible.

• Even though it is tempting to buy a real tree as early as possible, their shelf life is limited even with the best care. Dural Christmas Tree Farm advises that, under the best conditions, a real tree should last up to four weeks before drying out.

• Consider the needles when looking for a real tree.

Pull your hand toward your body along the branches.

If many needles fall off, the tree is past its peak.

• Think about the room in which the tree will be located. Leave at least 6 inches between the tip of the tree and the ceiling, accounting for the height of the tree stand as well.

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• If needle retention is a goal, the Scotch pine variety has the best needle retention and a high survival rate, lending to its popularity, offers Precision Tree and Landscape. Douglas fir and balsam fir are other durable trees.

• If possible, buy a freshly cut tree from a reputable nursery or tree farm, advises The Old Farmer’s Almanac. Many pre-cut trees sold elsewhere were likely cut weeks before and may not be fresh.

• Cut the bottom of the tree trunk before bringing it home to facilitate the uptake of fresh water daily. Trees can absorb as much as a gallon of water in a day, so make sure the tree gets fresh water every day.

• Keep trees away from as many heat sources as possible and away from direct sunlight to prolong longevity.

• According to Karabin Farms in Connecticut, to make a Christmas tree last longer, boil a gallon of water and then dissolve one cup of sugar in the water. Allow to cool. After freshly cutting the trunk, pour in the warm sugar water. Continue to add fresh, cool, plain water to the tree stand afterward.

Once needles begin to fall off with frequency, the tree is reaching its prime. Remove it so it does not become a fire hazard.

Your Next Home • December 2019

HOME Decorations help make the holiday season a magical time of year. Stores are awash in color and twinkling lights, and similar imagery is on display in private homes.

Designing holiday displays can be a great way for families to spend time together and kick off the celebration. In fact, according to Electrical Safety Foundation International, around 90 percent of Americans decorate their homes for the holidays.

When trimming the tree and decorating this holiday season, families must keep safety in mind. A little planning and some precautionary measures can ensure displays are enjoyed all season long. Travelers Insurance offers the following holiday decorating safety tips.

• Do not overload outlets. Plan displays according to the number and location of available outlets.

• Never exceed the maximum number of light strands that can be attached together.

• Use lights and products that have been tested for safety. Certification marks like UL, ETL and CSA are from nationally recognized laboratories.

• LED lights should be used whenever possible. Such lights consume less energy and run cooler than other bulbs.

• The ESFI says candles start almost 50 percent of all decoration fires. Minimize the risk by using candles only when they can be monitored. Artificial candles can be used in place of real candles.

• Check for freshness in live trees. A fresh tree will last longer and is less of a fire hazard than an old tree.

• Place Christmas trees at least three feet away from December 2019 • Your Next Home

Keep safety in mind when decorating for the holidays

all heat sources, including fireplaces and heaters.

• Use decorations that are non-combustible or made from flame-resistant materials.

• Pay attention to the age recommendations of decorations to see if they can be used in homes with young children. Some items, however common, are choking or strangulation hazards.

• Avoid putting small, “mouth-sized” decorations near the ground or on lower limbs of trees, where young children can easily reach them.

• Exercise caution when hanging decorations at high heights. Make sure the ladder is secured and have a spotter who can hold the ladder and pass items up safely.

• Outdoor electric lights and decorations should be plugged into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters, or GFCIs. • Exercise caution when decorating near power lines that extend to the house.

• Keep hung stockings far away from open flames so they do not catch any errant embers.

These are just a few suggestions for decorating a safely for the holiday season.

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Did You Know?

According to a survey of more than 2,000 adults in the United States conducted in September 2017 by the International Council of Shopping Centers, holiday shoppers still prefer to shop at physical retailers for their gifting needs. The survey found that nearly all shoppers (96 percent) planned to make a purchase from a retailer who has both a physical and online presence. Furthermore, 91

percent of holiday shoppers said they were planning to buy some of the items they researched online at physical locations. Even though online sales are booming, this data reinforces the fact that holiday shoppers still rely on brick-and-mortar stores. Retailers who understand how to seamlessly offer both online resources as well as a strong physical retail presence may enjoy an especially profitable holiday season.

According to a survey of more than 2,000 adults in the United States conducted in September 2017 by the International Council of Shopping Centers, holiday shoppers still prefer to shop at physical retailers for their gifting needs.

At Carter Lumber in Ludington, we make the transition into a new home as painless as possible. We have years of experience helping new residents turn their new homes into the permanent home of their dreams.

For more information on how we can help you, visit us in-store or online.

Welcome to the neighborhood!

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From kitchen and bath designs to decking, we make the remodeling and building process easy.

We’ve been rooted in the community for decades and are proud to welcome you to our beautiful lakeside community.

Your Next Home • December 2019

882-9655 • 929-9761 • US-31, Benzonia

December 2019 • Your Next Home

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HOME The arrival of winter forces everyone to confront the changes synonymous with the season, and local wildlife is no exception. Low temperatures, harsh winter storms and a scarcity of food can make it challenging for wildlife, including birds, to thrive throughout the winter.

Even though several species of birds are migratory and travel to warmer climates to wait out winter, many others stay put. The Audubon Society says that keeping close to home helps some species of birds maintain their territories.

Some birds will puff up to retain heat; others will seek shelter in dense foliage or cavities to avoid the elements. Many birds will huddle together to share warmth.

Another way of keeping warm is building up fat as an insulator and energy source. The Audubon Society says more than 10 percent of some birds’ winter body weight may be fat. That can be challenging to maintain when common sources of food, such as insects and berries, disappear as winter wears on. This is when some human intervention can prove handy, advise ornithologists. A few simple efforts may benefit birds and other wildlife that may not hibernate winter away or escape to the tropics.

• Have a supply of food, bird feeders, houses, and any other bird-related gear at the ready before the storms really rev up.

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How to care for wild birds this winter

• Invest in nutritious food, such as black oil sunflower seeds or blends that are high in black oil sunflower seeds. You also can make available more foods that are high in fat, such as suet, peanut butter or even whole peanuts. Mother Nature Network also suggests adding meal worms if they can be found.

• Choose feeders that will keep seed dry; otherwise, it will be prone to bacterial and fungal growth.

• Don’t discard fallen leaves or any downed twigs or pruned boughs from trees. This will give birds material for creating shelter or hiding away when the weather gets especially brutal.

When the Christmas tree is finished for the season, place it in the yard as a windbreak for birds.

• Put shallow water sources around so birds can drink. Replace them frequently if water freezes.

Wild birds can benefit from some help when the temperatures start to drop in winter.

Your Next Home • December 2019

100FT OF LAKE MICHIGAN FRONTAGE! 4410 Fox Farm, Manistee

2 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath Home on .55 Acres 90ft back from the Bluff

OFFERED AT $525,000

Heather Barker (231) 510-5505

heather@golighthouserealty.com

Casey Tennant (231) 233-7613

400FT OF DEEDED PORTAGE LAKE ACCESS! 7472 Leonard Ave, Manistee

3 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath Home on.69 Acres 3 Car Detached Garage

REDUCED TO $349,000

80 WOODED ACRE HUNTING PROPERTY

casey@golighthouserealty.com

Two 40 Acre Parcels, sold separately as Parcel B for $79,000 and Parcel C for $69,000 Or together for $139,500 December 2019 • Your Next Home

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Did You Know?

Giving the gift of an experience is a rising trend, particularly among millennials. Harris research has determined that millennials (defined as people born between 1980 and 1996) highly value experiences, and they are increasingly spending time and money on them. Types of experiences include athletic pursuits, cultural visits, concerts, social events, and various travel.

The research goes on to say that more than three out of four millennials choose to spend money on a desirable experience instead of buying a product. And it’s not just millennials.

Overall, consumer spending has shifted in the last 10 to 15 years. HSBC bank chief economist Kevin Logan has said consumer spending on recreation, travel and eating out has been trending upward for more than a decade, while purchases of clothing and shoes as a share of discretionary spending has dropped. These trends can help drive purchases during holiday gift-giving. Gifts that are more experienceoriented may be more appreciated by their recipients.

Giving the gift of an experience is a rising trend, particularly among millennials. Harris research has determined that millennials (defined as people born between 1980 and 1996) highly value experiences, and they are increasingly spending time and money on them.

Gini Pelton knows & Loves the Manistee area.

Since joining C21 Boardwalk in June 2012 — 401 Happy Clients & $52 Million in sales I can assist you with all your Real Estate Needs.

Sellers —

I have a team of Home Stagers, Cleaners, Repair, Contractors & Estate Sale Prep.

Buyers —

I have Lenders for every type of Purchase in my network

I’m Committed to my Community:

Scholarship Chair of the Manistee Elks Lodge 250, Vogue Volunteer, Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassador, Board member of the Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, and Munson Manistee Foundation

Gini Pelton 18

In Manistee, it’s not Google it’s #JustcallGini gini@c21boardwalk.com 231.690.0852 #ManisteethePlacetoBe #ManisteeRealtor Your Next Home • December 2019

Relationships Matter…

Confidence in your builder should, too.

Come see us at the Home & Outdoor Living Show at Little River Casino Resort February 21-23.

•••••••••••••••••

• Custom Homes • Log Homes • Additions • Remodeling

231.848.7123 18925 Stronach Dam Rd Wellston, MI 49689

December 2019 • Your Next Home

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Did You Know?

New Year’s resolutions may not have much staying power, but the tradition of making them is an enduring one that dates back thousands of years. According to History.com, ancient Babylonians are credited with being the first people to make New Year’s resolutions.

During Akitu, a 12-day religious festival, the Babylonians would make promises to their gods, and these promises typically focused on being a better person in the coming year.

Celebrants of the festival, which was held when crops were planted, a time that marked the beginning of a new year to individuals in certain ancient societies, would promise the gods that they would repay their debts and return any items they had borrowed in the previous year.

While these promises might have been the forerunners to modern New Year’s resolutions, there is one distinct difference that separates ancient Babylonians from people in modern times. Babylonians believed keeping their word to the gods would curry favor for them in the coming year, while failure to keep their promises would do the opposite. People who make resolutions today typically do so to better themselves and do not fear reprisal from their creator if they fail to live up to their pledges.

That’s likely a good thing, as various reports suggest that as much as 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions are abandoned by the second week of February.

POLE BUILDINGS LET US QUOTE YOURS Custom • Deluxe • Ag

Somsel Lumber Company Kaleva 20

231-362-3103

Your Next Home • December 2019

RETIRE IN STYLE

55+ Community

and enjoy low maintenance living at The Bluffs!

Move-in ready models available for immediate occupancy.

Order your custom new home today... move in by Spring!

956 Tennessee Ave., Manistee Off Eastlake Rd • 1 Mile South of M-55

231.887.4512

www.thebluffsonmanisteelake.com December 2019 • Your Next Home

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HOME

Stay safe this holiday season

The holiday season is an exciting time of year, and it is easy to get swept up in the decorations, crowds and social engagements. Despite the joviality and revelry of the holiday season, there is also the potential to become a target of theft. Allstate Insurance says breakins, package theft, online hacking, and pick-pocketing incidences increase around this time of year. As a result, it’s imperative that celebrants exercise caution come the holiday season.

STOP THE “PORCH PIRATES” Shoppers are not the only ones eagerly awaiting the arrival of packages come the holiday season.

Thieves are ready and waiting to snatch up items once they are delivered. Dubbed “porch pirates,” these criminals take packages off of porches when the delivery services leave them behind. According to a study by Blink, a video security company, residents of rural areas have a higher chance of being victimized by these crimes, which can occur anywhere. A 2016 survey from InsuranceQuotes.com found that roughly one in 10 adults has had a package stolen from his or her home before they were able to open it.

To avoid such crimes, consider having packages sent to a business location where there are more people around to receive them or to a neighbor who is home all day. Other suggestions include requiring a signature through the shipping service upon deliver or requesting the package be dropped off in a concealed area.

BE ALERT OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS While shopping in busy malls and other stores, keep track of the people close to you. Consider keeping credit cards and cash in an inside pocket rather than a back pocket or in a purse, which is more easily snatched. Exercise caution at ATM machines, guarding 22

PIN codes and retrieving and storing withdrawn funds quickly. When checking out at the store, ensure that your card never leaves your hand. Many retailers now have chip-imbedded card readers that enable customers to complete transactions without handing over their cards.

CHECK RECEIPTS AND STATEMENTS Because digital theft and identity theft spike this time of year, be sure to cross-reference purchases made against banking and credit card statements frequently.

Alert banking institutions to any fraudulent purchases immediately so you will not be responsible. Then have new cards issued and prior accounts closed. Shop from secured sites, and only use secure WiFi connections.

KEEP GIFTS AND PURCHASES OUT OF SIGHT Do not leave bags in the back seat of a car in plain sight of thieves. Hide purchases in the trunk or under a cargo cover in an SUV or truck. Also, do not advertise what you’ve bought or received to thieves by leaving the empty boxes outside. That big-screen TV box is a big giveaway that you now have expensive electronics in the house.

Shoppers must be vigilant during the holiday season to avoid being victimized by thieves.

Your Next Home • December 2019

Thinking of Selling?

Let Me List Your Home!

Call me for a FREE market analysis to learn what your home is worth.

Cell: (517) 607-5347 Leah Gannon Realtor

Leah@golighthouserealty.com • (231) 398-3700 Fax

December 2019 • Your Next Home

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Your Next Home • December 2019